Alliance Pharma Regulatory News (APH)

26 Apr 2005 07:02

Alliance Pharma PLC26 April 2005 For immediate release 26 April 2005 ALLIANCE PHARMA PLC ("Alliance Pharma" or "the Company") Announces Key Management Appointments Alliance Pharma plc (AIM: APH), an emerging speciality pharmaceutical company,is pleased to announce it has made two key management appointments to drive theCompany's growth in the dental and international markets. The appointmentsfollow the acquisition last year of two major product opportunities: Periostat(R), for a severe form of gum disease, and Forceval(R), a prescription-onlymultivitamin brand. Glynys Davies has been appointed Head of Alliance Pharma's newly formed DentalProducts Division, which will focus on the marketing of Periostat and otherdental products. Glynys, aged 31, qualified in Sales and Marketing at CapeTechnikon, Cape Town, South Africa, and has held senior marketing positions withDentsply, one of the world's largest dental products companies, and 3i ImplantInnovations, a world leader in dental implants. Alliance acquired the marketing rights to Periostat in November 2004 fromCollaGenex International, part of CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc (Nasdaq: CGPI),for the territories of the enlarged European Union, Switzerland, Israel,Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Periostat is the first and onlyapproved oral pharmaceutical product for the adjunctive treatment of adultperiodontal disease, or periodontitis, by the inhibition of those enzymes thatdestroy periodontal support tissues. In the US, Periostat has achieved sales of $45 million. In the UK alone it isestimated that periodontitis affects 11 per cent of the adult population. Alexander Scholtens Weert has been appointed Head of Alliance Pharma's newlyformed International Division. Alexander, aged 40, graduated in Marketing andManagement from The Amsterdam School of Business and has held marketingpositions with Eli Lilly and Roche and at medical devices company MiniMed, wherehe became Marketing Director of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Alexander will drive the internationalisation of Periostat and of Forceval, arange of licensed multivitamin and mineral supplements prescribed and reimbursedby the National Health Service in the UK. Alliance Pharma acquired the Forcevalrange in November last year and has marketing rights to all territoriesexcluding China. Commenting on the appointments, John Dawson, Alliance Pharma's Chief Executive,said: "I am delighted to welcome both Glynys and Alexander to the Company. Theseare key appointments for driving the growth of the recently acquired Periostatand Forceval brands, both of which offer considerable potential in the UK andoverseas." For further information: Alliance Pharma plc + 44 (0) 1249 466966John Dawson, Chief ExecutiveMaddy Scott, Finance Directorwww.alliancepharma.co.uk Numis Securities + 44 (0) 20 7776 1500Charles Spicer Buchanan Communications + 44 (0) 20 7466 5000Mark Court/Lisa Baderoon/Rebecca Skye Dietrich Notes to editors About Alliance Pharma Alliance Pharma, founded in 1996, is an AIM listed emerging specialitypharmaceutical company based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK The company has astrong track record of acquiring the rights to established niche brands andowns, or shares, the rights to 30 branded pharmaceutical products and continuesto explore opportunities to expand the range. Alliance Pharma's products are prescribed in the treatment of a wide range ofconditions and include brands used in the prevention of heart disease, inParkinson's disease, in nutrition, in nasal infections, in the treatment ofdermatological conditions and in childbirth. Alliance Pharma's sales are mainlyprescription driven. Its products are distributed to hospitals directly and topharmaceutical wholesalers which service both hospital and retail pharmacieswith their prescription requirements. Alliance Pharma is also developing new products for sleep disorders and theinduction of labour. Alliance Pharma joined the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in December2003 and trades under the symbol APH. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange